Easiest Microwave Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars

So I had surgery on my hip bright and early this morning, so early I’d probably consider it to be the middle of the night (waking up at 4:00am is like my worst nightmare. Actually I wish it would have been a nightmare, because that would mean I would have still been asleep and dreaming at 4 :)) but anyway things went so well I’m right back to work today. Okay just kidding, I’m basically going to be a couch potato for the next week. Meaning I’m going to be spending unbelievably ridiculous amounts of time on Pinterest dreaming of all the delicious things I could be making, browsing the web for beautiful kitchen ideas that I’m most likely never going to use, shopping for clothes online and pretending to care about fashion and begging my husband to learn to cook (as he refuses) so he will make something other than a box of mac and cheese with a side of crackers and string cheese for dinner or picking up take out every night. Why do I care if he learns to cook? Well I’m going to need some dinner this week and I just want him to see how fun cooking can be (which he would adamantly disagree with)… I know him too well though so I made freezer meals. I also made some of these amazing and incredibly easy granola bars yesterday. So easy that I’m sure I could make more of these during this lounge week. The coating is made in the microwave and they require no baking so these could easily be prepared in 10 minutes. These tasty, mostly healthy yet seemingly dessert like bars remind me a lot of these treats and these (minus the topping). I have a feeling you are going to love these not only for there simplicity but of also for their addictive, peanut buttery deliciousness. Enjoy!

Microwave Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Ingredients

2cupsquick oats

1 1/2 - 2cupsRice Krispies cereal*

1cupchunky peanut butter(or 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter)**

1/2cuphoney

1/4cupdark brown sugar

1/8tspsalt

1/2tspvanilla extract

Instructions

Line an 8 by 8-inch baking dish with aluminum foil leaving a 2-inch overhang. In a large mixing bowl, toss together oats and Rice Krispies, set aside. In a separate microwave safe mixing bowl, combine peanut butter, honey, brown sugar and salt. Heat mixture on HIGH power for 1 minute, remove and stir. Return to microwave and heat on HIGH power 1 minute longer. Remove from microwave, pour in vanilla and whisk mixture for 30 seconds. Pour peanut butter mixture over oat mixture and toss well to evenly coat. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish, firmly press mixture into an even layer. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze 10 - 15 minutes or chill in refrigerator 30 minutes. Lift bars from dish using foil overhang and cut into squares. Store in an airtight container.

*I used 2 cups Rice Krispies but I thought it was slightly too much so I'd recommend start with 1 1/2 and if you think it could use more add in another 1/2 cup.

**If you use extra crunchy you will probably have to add a few more Tbsp as it will increase the peanut to peanut butter ratio.

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94 comments

Averie @ Averie Cooks: I had no idea you were having surgery! I hope you’re doing okay (and frankly cannot believe you’re blogging!!!) but I wish you speedy healing!

I love Special K Bars and have a recipe for them as well as about 10 versions of no-bake PB-based granola bars. I love adding Rice Krispies cereal to them as you did. That little bit of extra crunch goes a long way! Yours turned out perfectly! April 24, 2013 at 5:24pmReply

Jaclyn: Thanks so much Kimberley for you nice comment! Recovery is going good so far, just boring :). I hope you enjoy these granola bars! April 30, 2013 at 8:06pmReply

Sarah: As always with your recipes, this is right up my alley! I hope the recovery goes well this week. At least you can justify sitting around and Pinteresting the day away. I have no excuse :) April 25, 2013 at 2:24pmReply

Jaclyn: Haha I know most of the time I have no excuse at all I just love it, way too many cool ideas :). And thanks Sarah! April 25, 2013 at 6:18pmReply

ATasteOfMadness: Hope you are doing ok!
That sounds like what I would do with a week off. Pinterest is usually where I get most of my baking ideas :) April 25, 2013 at 2:53pmReply

Jaclyn: Thanks Kathleen! I love Pinterest and this week I have been very glad it was created, I spent probably 6 hours or more on there yesterday, sad but true :). April 25, 2013 at 6:17pmReply

Anna: My husband will love these! He loves peanut butter and he’s been going gluten free lately so these are perfect. Thanks for posting, and hope your up and about soon. April 25, 2013 at 4:36pmReply

Jaclyn: Thanks Anna! I hope you and your husband do love these! April 25, 2013 at 6:15pmReply

Shari Kelley: I’m very sorry to hear you had to have surgery. I pray your recovery goes quickly and smoothly! April 25, 2013 at 4:53pmReply

Carol York: Congratulations on making a life change. It takes so much courage to do what you have done.I ‘ m sure with your talent you will have no difficulty with your next new adventure.Thanks for all your wonderful ideas and recipes. April 25, 2013 at 6:25pmReply

Alexandra: Are these very soft afterwards? April 25, 2013 at 7:43pmReply

Jaclyn: Like chewy soft and somewhat crispy from the rice krispies but not like fall apart soft. April 25, 2013 at 8:29pmReply

Alexandra: Ok good, I tried another recipe from a different site and they fell apart. Just made a batch and in my fridge cooling. Can’t wait to eat them. April 26, 2013 at 11:45amReply

Jaclyn: I hope you love them Alexandra! April 26, 2013 at 12:37pmReply

Alexandra: Ok I just tried them and they are perfect. Just like the store ones but much tastier and healthier. Thank you. April 26, 2013 at 12:53pm

Jaclyn: Awesome! Thanks for leaving another comment letting me know you liked them Alexandra! April 26, 2013 at 2:02pm

Rachel @ Bakerita: Wow, these look so delicious!! Definitely need to try these considering how easy they are. Pinned! April 25, 2013 at 11:10pmReply

Jaclyn: Thanks Rachel and thanks for the pin! April 26, 2013 at 9:54amReply

Sandy: I love to hand easy to make recipes to my husband to try. He made these this morning and they are truly delicious. Very reminiscence of eating a great peanut butter cookie. Will definately have them again. April 27, 2013 at 12:49pmReply

Jaclyn: That is great to hear Sandy! I’m so glad you liked these, thanks for your comment! April 28, 2013 at 9:40amReply

Shawna: I just tried these this morning, and I added chocolate chips on half the pan and white chocolate chips on the other half… the entire family LOVED them! They’re so easy to make, take very little time to set up, and you can add different toppings or dried fruit into the mix… thanks to your recipe, I’ll never buy store-bought granola bars ever again. I also love that the clean-up is quick and easy with the foil in the pan and very few dishes used. Right now I just have what is left in a Ziploc bag, but I think when I make more, I’ll be wrapping them individually in saran wrap and storing them on the breakfast shelf right next to my homemade packets of brown sugar and cinnamon oatmeal and the shelf stable fruits so my family has a healthy, homemade variety of quick breakfast foods to choose from, rather than constantly buying the expensive sugar and preservative-filled cereals! Love, love, love this recipe! Thanks so much for sharing!!! May 4, 2013 at 9:09amReply

Jaclyn: That is great to hear Shawna!! I’m so glad you enjoy this recipe, and you’re very welcome :)! May 7, 2013 at 9:00amReply

Kristi Goldsberry: I just tried these and they are the best granola bar recipe I have tried so far, and I have tried a lot! I love when I can add more homemade snacks to my repertoire! May 10, 2013 at 1:31pmReply

Jaclyn: I’m so glad you think so Kristi :), thanks for your comment! May 14, 2013 at 10:47amReply

Courtney: These are so good! I made some for her snack after her first day of school and she ate it up so fast! She’s so excited tk make them herself! Do you know about how long they would last wrapped in Saran Wrap in a ziplock? August 15, 2013 at 5:56pmReply

Jaclyn: They’d probably last 1 week at room temp in an airtight container or ziploc. That is so cool your daughter wants to make them herself! I’m so glad she liked them! August 20, 2013 at 4:09pmReply

colleen: can you tell me where you purchased the kraft colored parchment wrap? It relaly finishes them off & would look great for Christmas baking these bars :) Thanks August 15, 2013 at 9:01pmReply

Jaclyn: I just bought it at a local kitchen goods store but you can find it online, it’s just a natural unbleached parchment. Hope that helps! August 19, 2013 at 4:19pmReply

Kira: These are awesome. They are delicious and simple. My family loved them. Next time I may try adding a little coconut or white chocolate chips or even some fresh chopped peanuts. I know, I could use crunchy peanut butter, but for some reason I am not a fan. The peanut butter taste different to me :). Crazy I know! Thanks for sharing. August 16, 2013 at 5:16amReply

Jaclyn: I’m so happy to hear you liked these Kira! Those additions do sound delicious! August 26, 2013 at 8:47pmReply

Amber Rist: Is there something I could substitute for the honey? I never seem to have any in my kitchen and never seem to remember to buy any at the store! thanks. August 16, 2013 at 11:52pmReply

Amber Rist: Thanks so much! I”ll check it out. I seem to have to do a lot of substitutions :) August 20, 2013 at 11:12amReply

Alexandra D.: This was very good! I think I might try creamy next time though because I thought the chunky put too much of a peanut taste to it. Thanks for the recipe. Hope my kids like it since they’ve been so use to the conventional. August 21, 2013 at 4:47pmReply

Jaclyn: I’m glad you like these Alexandra! And yes everyones preferences are different – I’m obsessed with chunky peanut butter but probably less than half of peanut butter eaters prefer chunky :). Thanks for your comment! August 26, 2013 at 8:53pmReply

Laura: These have got SOOOO much honey in them could I leave some of it out or replace some????
Oh and can I leave out the vanilla too (I’ve run outta that!!) August 22, 2013 at 4:44amReply

Alexandra D.: I wanted to add in some Nutella. Do you recommend I was thinking about using 3/4 peanut butter and 1/4 Nutella? August 22, 2013 at 10:44pmReply

Jaclyn: If you use creamy peanut butter than I’d do 1/2 cup and 1/4 cup nutella if you do crunchy peanut butter then yes I’d probably use 3/4 cup and 1/4 cup. I hope you love them! The nutella addition sound delish! August 26, 2013 at 8:44pmReply

Nutella Chewy Granols Bars |: […] Bar recipe (on my addiction to all things Pinterest). I searched other recipes but the one from Cooking Classy didn’t have eggs and appeared to be the easiest to make. Luckily someone had noted they tried […] September 1, 2013 at 6:31pmReply

Ashley: Omg these are awesome … My husband can’t have sugar so I used all natural peanut butter and then left out some of the oats and Rice Krispies and added in dried fruit and nuts and they were awesome I’m always looking for snacks for him and these are perfect thanks!! And I am totally in love with all your recipes the salted Carmel apple cupcakes were the best part of my daughters 1st birthday party the other week!!! Thanks again!! September 6, 2013 at 9:50amReply

Jaclyn: I’m so happy to hear your family enjoyed these and that you’ve liked some of the other recipes too :)! Thanks for leaving a comment Ashley! September 7, 2013 at 7:40pmReply

Christine: Hi Ashley, My husband now can’t have sugar either. Can you please tell me how much you reduced the oats and Rice Krispies? Thank you so much! February 28, 2014 at 4:24pmReply

Chris: Can you use almond butter instead of peanut butter? September 11, 2013 at 1:34amReply

Jaclyn: I think that should be fine and delicious – I love almond butter! September 12, 2013 at 3:02pmReply

Kylee: I just made these granola bars and my family LOVED them! My dad can’t eat nuts right now (but can have peanut butter), so instead of the chunky peanut butter I used creamy and added mini chocolate chips as a filler! They turned out awesome! I am going to try adding flax seed to my next batch! September 12, 2013 at 10:50amReply

Jaclyn: The chocolate chip addition sounds delicious! I’m so glad you family liked them Kylee! The flax seed sounds like a great idea too! September 12, 2013 at 2:55pmReply

Kristy Zink: I made these today. Super easy! My kids loved them. My son said they were “Epic”. I should have made a double batch. These are going to go fast. September 17, 2013 at 1:13pmReply

Jaclyn: Happy to here he considered them “epic” :)! Thanks for leaving a comment Kristy! September 27, 2013 at 6:53amReply

Kellie Thompson: These taste delicious and my kids love them (finally a bar they like) BUT, they did not hold together…they are granola! Any suggestions? September 20, 2013 at 5:18pmReply

Jaclyn: If yours came out like a dry fall apart granola I would recommend that you reduce the amount of dry ingredients slightly and maybe even reduce the amount that you microwave the coating, if it was more like a wet fall apart granola I would microwave the coating mixture a bit longer and press the bars more firmly into the dish. Hopefully that will help! September 29, 2013 at 12:54pmReply

leah: … just a quick question (batter is already all mixed in a bowl), the quick oats don’t need to be cooked, correct?
i like the idea of chocolate chips. i think i am going to add a little. BTW, i didn’t have chunky PB so i used creamy and added some chopped peanuts (omitted the salt cuz they are salty) October 4, 2013 at 1:12amReply

Jaclyn: No the quick oats don’t need to be cooked. I hope you love these! October 4, 2013 at 6:24amReply

mandy: Cant wait to try these next week. Yumo November 14, 2013 at 5:30pmReply

Jazzy: May I ask if I could use the regular rolled oats instead of the quick oats? Thank you! November 28, 2013 at 3:18amReply

Jaclyn: I wouldn’t recommend it simply because of the texture it would give, although if you buzz them through a food processor for a bit it might work. November 28, 2013 at 8:04pmReply

Jazzy: What a great idea! I’m so happy that I found your great recipe. Thank you! November 28, 2013 at 8:34pmReply

Mariah: These are delicious and so easy!! Thanks for posting this recipe! January 12, 2014 at 11:18amReply

Jaclyn: I’m happy to hear you liked them Mariah, thanks for leaving a comment! January 12, 2014 at 8:28pmReply

Stephanie: Omg! These look so good! I can’t wait to try them! The only thing is… sadly, I don’t have a microwave, which is ironic since I’m a college student, but would I be able to make this on the stove?

Jaclyn: That should be totally fine :). I would cook it a little longer though because it takes longer to heat on the stove top then the microwave. January 20, 2014 at 3:26pmReply

Michelle: These are AMAZING I can’t believe something so simple is so delicious!!! I made them this morning wirh my 2 year old (yes is THAT easy!) they came out perfect and most important super yummy!! Will make the again for sure!! Thanks!!! January 22, 2014 at 10:01amReply

Jaclyn: Yes, just that easy :). I’m glad you were able to make these together I love cooking with my kids! Thanks for your comment Michelle! January 22, 2014 at 9:04pmReply

Peanut Butter Granola Bars | The Cooking Bug: […] and I usually make special treats for my dad when I’m home. I decided to try my hand at the easiest, microwave, chewy, peanut butter granola bars. Granola bars are a great way of combining a healthy snack with peanut butter. These treats are […] March 5, 2014 at 3:09amReply

Laura Dembowski: I hope you are healing quickly! Sending lots of good thoughts your way. Love bars like this! They make wonderful breakfasts and snacks. March 9, 2014 at 12:27pmReply

Niahn: do you think i could sub quick oats for rolled oats? November 27, 2014 at 12:37amReply

Jaclyn: You could try I’m just not sure if they’d hold together quite as well and they’d have a different texture. November 27, 2014 at 12:45amReply

Christine: I LOVE these chewy bars!! Way better than store bought! I also added coconut and a few mini choc chips. Thank you Jaclyn ….these are just perfect for a quick breakfast, snack break, or just any ole time…:) June 8, 2015 at 7:02pmReply

DD: Just made these this morning and they were wonderful! Hubby and I both gobbled one up for breakfast today. I added some craisins and some chia seeds. Came out great!! July 16, 2015 at 10:22amReply

LeeAnne: My picky teen loved these, as did everyone else in the family. Great recipe. February 25, 2016 at 10:33amReply

Jaclyn: I’m so happy to hear your family has enjoyed this recipe LeeAnne! Thanks for your comment! February 25, 2016 at 11:53pmReply

Laur Bower: Just want to say this is my tried and true recipe, for sending to my husband! While he’s deployed or even just tdy for a month or so, he always asks for these! They survive the mail service all the way to the sandbox! Thank you for sharing!! November 28, 2016 at 8:43pmReply

Jaclyn: I’m so glad the troops love them Laur! December 7, 2016 at 1:05pmReply

Jacqui: I stumbled upon this recipe after searching on Pinterest – I was looking for a way to recreate the Jif Creamy PB bars without so much sugar / unnecessary ingredients and I REALLY think these will be perfect! I will probably blog about them if so and i’ll be sure to check back and let you know :) THANK YOU!!!! February 3, 2017 at 2:31pmReply

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